General Officers sustained. Elder Jay E. Jensen released from presidency of 1st Quorum of 70. Craig C. Christensen called to replace. Releasing Elder Jensen as church historian and recorder. Elder Steven E. Snow to replace. Now I can't keep up with the names. Check ksl.com or deseretnews.com for accurate lists and spellings.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve
Reached milestone of 90 years old. Grateful for blessing of long life. Seen development of industrial and information age. Today the way we find, share and exchange information changes almost daily.
Through all the fast changes we work to ensure values of gospel of Jesus Christ prevail.
Sanctity of marriage and central importance of family under threat.
His family helped celebrate his 90th birthday. Niece ? gathered a letter from him to his mother on Mothers Day 1945 while he was serving in WWII. He was away for 4 Mothers Days. The letter was of appreciation. Grateful for clean socks and fresh sheets. But deeper is the feeling because of her example. Wanted to follow in her footsteps. Family adventures to the canyon. She climbed and played ball with them. Proud to be her son.
He reflected on the culture of the family, ward, state in which he was raised. There is a unique gospel culture. Common practices to all the members. It comes from the commandments and teachings of the prophets. The way we raise our families and live our lives. A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. And they shall be one flesh. [several scriptural sources - I suppose the first is Genesis 2:24]
This is especially true when power of the priesthood declare the marriage to be for time and all eternity.
in todays world influence of adversary is so wide spread. In clever and carefully camouflaged ways he is undermining.
Teaching in the home is a most solemn duty.
Train up a child in the way he or she should go. Proverbs 22:6
It is goodly parents entrusted with the care of Heavenly Father's children.
There are many resources to help - 5 things
1) Parents can pray in earnest.
2) Family home evening, scripture study, eat together as often as possible.
3) Parents can fully avail of church support network. Communicate with Primary and young men and women leaders.
4) Parents can share testimonies often with children and committing them to keep the commandments
5) organize families on clear and simple family rules. Household responsibilities.
I will help our children live in the world and not become of the world
President Joseph F (or Fielding) Smith taught that it is the duty of parents to raise up the children in the gospel.
You must begin to teach at the cradle side - by example and by precept. Proclamation on the Family - rear in love and righteousness - spiritual and physical needs. (Reads a good part of it).
Nurturing and teaching is mother's divine role enhanced when as partner with the father.
As parents we partner with God to bring to pass his work and his glory.

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve
Elder Perry must be the youngest 90-year-old in the whole church
Remembers his father's peach orchard and raising bees. Honey one of the healthiest foods.
He was happy to let his father tend to his own bees.
He's learned a lot about how bees operate.
One pound of honey 20-60,000 bees must visit millions of flowers.
Contribution of each while seeming very small is essential to the health of the tribe.
Bees are a symbol - Jaredites carried honeybees. Brigham Young used the symbol for the pioneer people. The symbol is found in the interior and exteriors of many of our temples. The podium he is at is adorned with beehive images.
Great things are brought about through the efforts of many hands anxiously engaged.
Imagine what we could do if focused like the bees.
Love God with all they heart, soul and mind - and love your neighbor as yourself.
We are to love God and love and care for our neighbors. Imagine what good we could do if we all join together.
Epistle of James - service is the very definition of pure religion. James 1:27
We help with emergencies but what is the effect of every small act of service and kindness?
1/12 teaspoon of honey contributed by each bee to the hive.
Life sustaining nectar of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
What is required? Church duties are to be commended
But are our hearts and minds engaged in good things throughout the days of the week?
How do we make the mighty change essential? Alma 5
The gospel and doctrine of eternal life is essential.
Not encouraging religious zealotry or fanaticism but take the next step to assimilate doctrines of gospel deep in our hearts and souls. This integrity simplifies our lives. Brings joy and peace to our souls.
How do we ingrain the love of Christ into our hearts?
Simple practice - in your morning prayer ask Heavenly Father to guide you to serve one of his precious children. Stay focused like the honey bees on the flowers.
In many instances Heavenly Father answers another person's prayers through us. - Pres. Monson
Pres. Kimball - God watches over us and it is usually through another person that He serves us.
You can help pollinate the world with the pure Love of Christ
Bound together we can bring love and compassion to our own family and the broken and those who have need.
At the end of each day, may we be able to say "yes" to the question "Have I done any good in the world today?" (the hymn)

Elder Larry Echohawk of the Seventy (and former Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior - appointed by Pres. Obama)
Story about Marine service. They had to answer their drill sergeant in loud voice. Marine Sergeant tough on new recruits looked through Echohawk's belongings. In the sergeant's hand was the Book of Mormon from his Echohawk's gear. He expected he would yell. But he whispered "are you a Mormon." "YES SERGEANT INSTRUCTOR!" he answered back. "Do you believe this?" "YES, SERGEANT INSTRUCTOR!"
Tells of conversion of his family and challenge from Home Teacher to read Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon Lamanites among the ancestors of the American Indian. His great grandfather Echo Hawk - Pawnee - when the Pawnees had to give up their land went from 12,000 to 700 in population - scattered smitten and nearly destroyed. Message to remnants of Lamanites. Purpose of Book of Mormon is to bring message to the seed of Book of Mormon people. Book of Mormon is sacred scripture. Contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel. "Most correct book and keystone of our religion" - Prophet Joseph. It has a message for the whole world. As a 17-year-old boy he read and relied on the promise in Moroni 10:4 to ask if it were true. As he knelt in prayer he received a powerful spiritual witness that it is true. That has guided him through his life. He asks all to read the Book of Mormon. Especially the remnant of Israel. The Descendants of the Book of Mormon people.
Come unto Christ, the holy one of Israel and partake of his salvation - offer your whole souls as an offering to him. Omni 1:26

Elder Robert C. Gay of the Seventy
Story about movie ticket at 11-year-old rate when he was 12. Told his dad. Response:
Would you sell your soul for a nickel?
He used this the same way in counseling a young man in sports.
Is a national championship worth more than all the Father has?
Does one drink really matter?
Give up all your sins to know him (Father of King Lamoni) Alma 22:18
This charge is more that just not doing bad things. It means serving each other.
Served as a mission president in Africa. Saw boy along side of road and prompted to stop and help [and I missed the rest of the story checking bank statement]
Satan need not get everyone like Cain or Judas - just to get good men to be neutral to evil - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Elder Scott D. Whiting of the Seventy
Touring Brigham City Temple and newly remodeled Laie Hawaii temple. Touring with contractor. Can't have grit on the wall - not temple standard. Same thing with a small defect in a window - not temple standard. He visited the finished temple and saw the corrections even when wallpaper was over the wall and a potted plant in front of the window. But the repairs had been made. He looked at the outside of the Temple "Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord."
High standards of Temple building are a type and a symbol of how we should be living our own lives.
We are each made of divine materials - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God? I Corinthians 3:16

Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve
Tells of mission president in Brazil who lost a daughter to a car accident in Indiana. Her mother flew through the night and met her other children who told her the daughter had passed away. The family's faith did not falter. The gift of Faith is a spiritual endowment.
Our faith is centered in God our Father and His son Jesus Christ. The gospel has been restored. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. And we have living prophets.
Trial of our faith. Lord to Simon satan desired him to sift as wheat
Apostle Paul
Trials often camouflaged. A test for one can be a fiery trial for another.
Immerse yourself in the things that build faith. Repent. Keep the commandments. Server others.
Just don't leave the church. It's like leaving the storm center just as the tornado arrives.
Meeting together we fortify and serve one another. We partake of the sacrament. Receive the blessings of the Temple.
In the ordinances the power of God is manifest. D&C 84:20
There is always a place for your here. No trial is so strong we cannot overcome it together.
There are many single adults in the church - they keep the law of chastity. It can be a trial of faith. Expresses respect for these disciples of Christ.
Whoso looketh on a woman to lust after has committed adultery in his heart. Matthew 5:28
Go and sin no more. John 8:11
Story of single sister who put her faith in Jesus Christ.
Another served a mission and rigorous academic training - he has same sex attraction - he doesn't know when he will have a family - but he doesn't want to do anything to violate covenants - blessed with the gospel, family, and friends. Grateful for many blessings.
The world asks, how can you ask so much?
My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth peace. John 14:27
There are those who use the internet to attack the truth. Some of what you see just isn't true.
He tells of a friend walking in with Time magazine report of Martin Harris letter challenging foundation story of church - few months later discovery and confession that it was a forgery and complete fraud [Mark Hoffman]
Some leave faith because they find a statement from long ago from a leader of the church conflicting with our principles. Our doctrine is not hidden away in some obscure paragraph, it is all the material that we share openly and over and over again. [good point]
Joseph Smith said he was not perfect but there was no error in the revelations.
Every person eventually is backed up to the wall of faith and there must make his stand.
Trials may be trying. They need not be spiritually fatal. They need not take us from our covenants.
Build on the rock - you will not fall. [many possible scriptural cites - try D&C 6:34]
Elder D. Todd Christoferson - though I suffered then, I look back and am glad there was not a quick solution to my problem. I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart.
A witness follows the trial of your faith. Ether 12:6
With faith come trials of faith leading to more faith.
Hold on. Fear not for God shall be with you forever and ever. D&C 122:9

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve
We can all remember our feelings when little child cries out to us for help.
Heavenly Father gave us those feelings to help children.
An apostle has responsibility to witness to entire world
All children are children of God
Not speaking on politics of policy. But cannot speak without that impact.
We are all responsible to care for weak and defenseless.
Children need others to speak for them and need leaders who protect them.
Children are abducted to serve in armies. Cites UN on prostitution and pornography abuse of children.
Serious problem to deny them birth.
One cause is abortion. Many laws permit or even promote abortion but this is a great evil.
Other children are damaged by mother's drug abuse.
Childhood abuses and neglect after youth are more publicly visible.
In South Africa met a child with no family other than a grandfather.
Many children impaired by neglect. Exposed to dangerous environments.
Elder Holland story of LDS police officer. Found 5 young children huddled together trying to sleep where parent was drinking and partying. Officer prayed. One child about 6 ran up "will you please adopt me?"
And whoso receiveth one of these little children receiveth me Matthew 18:5 - if you harm - better that a millstone hung around neck. Matthew 18:6
Psychological abuse is serious - making a youth feel unloved or unwanted. Young people struggling with any condition including same sex attraction need attention, not bullying or ostracism.
Physical or emotional threats are most serious when from parents or guardians - physical or emotional damage to children.
Marriage and culture of marriage and child care have a big impact. Cites expert on nuclear family value. Children have been pushed from center stage. Current American story about marriage - a relationship primarily for the benefit of the individual spouses - children hardly appear in the story - at most shadowy characters in the background.
Children are impacted by divorces. Family Proclamation - Parents duty - sacred obligation.
Most powerful teaching is by parents. Divorcing parents teach a negative lesson.
Sometimes divorce is appropriate even for the children but this is very rare.
Children need two parents united in marriage and goals.
He was raised by a widow mother and knows it can't always be that way but it remains the ideal.
No fault divorce is a bad thing.
Cites article -Even as traditional marriage has declined it's importance has increased.
Cites data on children of unwed parents. Children suffer disadvantages. Stability of marriage matters.
Couples of same gender. The scientific social studies are controversial. Cites study. Same-sex marriage is a social experience and will take time to assess.
We are speaking of the children of God.
His address is for all people of religious faith.
Pure little children are our role models of teachability and faithfulness.
Must repent and be baptized and become as a little child. 3 Nephi 11:37
The children are our future.

2 comments:

Maybe reading Whiting's talk will give me a different perspective, but I found his talk very depressing. We already put so much pressure to be perfect on ourselves, another message of things not being good enough is really not what I needed. At the end of the talk, I was wondering what an imperfect person, such as I am, is supposed to have as the takeaway?

As I listened, my mind's eye travelled to my dear friend who is struggling with three boys who are drowning trying to cope with the sexual abuse that was perpetrated against those young boys. She and her husband already feel pushed away by the church, and I hope this talk doesn't get passed on to them. They need more mourners, more people who care, more people who can overlook trash in the corner, to love the person in the room.

It was once pointed out to me that in the new testament christian says," come unto me and be ye perfect even as my father who is in heavens perfect." but in the Americas after He is resurrected he says "even as I and my father are perfect." the thought that christ knows we will not be perfect in this life helps me get through the added stress on perfection during conference.

Comments are welcome. Feel free to disagree as many do. You can even be passionate (in moderation). Comments that contain offensive language, too many caps, conspiracy theories, gratuitous Mormon bashing, personal attacks on others who comment, or commercial solicitations- I send to spam. This is a troll-free zone. Charity always!